St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-03-15
It Was Principally an Affair of Honor
But There Was Stake of Five
Hundred Dollars.
The Fight Declared n Draw After
Both Contestants Were Almost
Knocked Out.
Tommy Chandler Organizing and
Preparing For a Raid-- Various
Sporting Notes.

events that have tranSpired here. Two
young men, who were from respectable
families, upon that occasion fought gen-
,iine battle of fOrty-seven rounds with
four-ounce gloves, totally disabling each
other and atfording interest through a
three hours struggle, to some thirty sports
who were sworn to secrecy. The affair
was one of honor, and grew out of dis
pute which had occurred some months be-
fore. Although it was fought for honor,
it was thought necessary that $500 stake
should be taken by the victor The names
OF the participants are not divu4ged. al
though they are well-known in mercantile
circles. The story OF the set-to is one of
great interest.
1t was sometime during Friday that
Alfred Rhodes, who claims to be the mana
ger of The Northwestern Sportsman, was
approached by an unknown man and asked
il he could find him room where a ring
battle could be fought. Mr.. Rhodes at
once volunteered the information that his
publishing room, No. %, in the Union
block. would be at his disposal, and that
secrecy would be maintained. An arrange
ment was at once perfected. Sun
day afternoon was fixed for the
date of the battle. The agent
of the interested parties attributed the
cause of the impending struggle to per-
sonal feud of long standing, and said both
principals had been training for some time,
in anticipation of the event. In spite Of
the secrecy of the arrangements number
of the local sports knew of the fight and
when Sunday afternoon came assembled at
the headquarters of the sporting paper.
In the room where the battle was to be
ho6 hpan ,lor
twenty-four foot ring, elevated about 3 feet
from the floor and constructed with all the
conventional trappings. AT 2:45 the ring
was ready and the contestants, two middle
weights, appeared with seconds. They
stripped in the presence of the spectators,
and few moments later faced each other
as time was called. Previous to this time
Dan Needham, weil-known sport about
town, was chosen referee and Bert W.Lyon
tmekeeper For the sake of description
one of them will be called Ryan, the other
Sullivan.
Round One-Both men were exceedingly
nervous, and cautiously spared for an OPEN
ing. 1t was evident they were equally
matched, aud both tipped the scales about
the same. Time was called before either had
located on his opponents body.
Round Two-Both men came to the center
with a bound. The mild preliminaries of the
first round had opened the way for the Sec
ond. The men faced each other for second
then Jointly INDUCED in a mad struggle with
short arm blows, in which Ryan was slightly
worsted. The round ended with Ryan on the
defensive.
Round Three-Sullvan assumed the often
sive, and forced the fight. He led with his
left, but Ryan couDtered and made a cushion
carrom upon Suivan's wind. The blow was
| almost too much, and had his opponent fol-
! lowed up his advantage the fight might have
ended then and there.
Round Four-This round was war to the
knife. Both men fought like tigers, and
evenly divided honors. Near the close of the
round Ryan planted heavy blow upon Sul-
vans neck, which brought hun to his knees,
but too late to allow of any advantage, for
time was called
Round Five-Both men spared for wind,
and Ryan led for an opening. No results
followed sntil he was caught mapping by q
blow which raised walnut lump upon his
already discolored face. Some heavy blows
were then exchanged closing the round.
From this time up to the tenth round both
men seemed to be bent upon determining
the staying qualities of the other, and.
while there were several severe blows eX-
changed odds were about even, and no
material damage had been done.
Round Ten-Here both men seemed to D ut
on their fighting face. and there was as lively
work done as has been seen in this city for
years. Ryans point of attack was the bread
basket, while Sullivan adhered to his former
tactics and attempted to reach the juglar.
When time was called both men seemed badly
winded, though neither of them received
much evidence of punishment.
Round Eleven-There was no abatement Of
interest in the meeting. Ryan again led for
the wind-bag, but, falling short, had to digest
! a singing retort in the ear. 1n-tighting was
then INDUCED in, the round closing by Sulli-
van coing to grass.
Round Twelve-The seconds worked hard
with the men, who were blowing hard, but
| both showed game when time was called.
Both men, after some futile passes, were
near the middle Of the ring when Ryan made
furious rush at Sullivan and swept him
| completely off his feet. He was up, however
in q moment and at work again. This. like
the other two preceding rounds, was fiercely
| fought, and at the end both men were show
| ing wear and tear. The round ended with
| honors even.
| Round Thrteen-In response to an offer at
his jaw, Sullivan espoused the previous tao
| tics of his antagonist and made furious
| rush for victory. Blood flowed freely from
| their mouths and noses, and it was plain
! both needed rest. They spared for wind
until time was called.
| Round Fourteeu-Was the most interesting
| one of all. and came near deciding the battle.
| Both men came to the scratch with faces
| swollen and bloody, but there was determin-
alton written in every outline OF their face.
| After some hard hitting, Ryan stepped back
| and made a lunge at his antagonist. The
| large fist descended like streak of light, fell
| full upon the point Of the chin and brought
Sullivan to his knees, and another blow made
| him bite the dust. He was so groggy he could
| not RISE and the fight was thought to be over,
| but time was called.
! From this time out the fight went Ryan's
| way, and it would have been rightfully his
| had he received fair play at the hands of
| the referee. After the remainder of the
desperate rounds had been fought both
men were SO weak that they could not con-
tinue the fight and it was declared draw,
much to the disgust of some of the specta-
| tors.
The fight was one of the most des-
perate aud at the same time
scientific amateur smuggling matches seen
here for many years. Both of the
participants now hold down an elegant bed
| each in their comfortable quarters The
fight is the talk of the town, and both of
| the men who were most severely interested
in the battle are well known about town. 1t
was generally understood that the matter
would not be public proper ty, but the GLOBE
representative witnessed the exhibition, and
the description here given TALES with the
actual facts.
Among the spectators were some of the
best known men and sports of the city, and
they all agree that more desperate and in
! teresting struggle has not been seen here
for long time.
A Chicago Wrestling Match.
! Special to the Globe.